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Getting pregnant:
For a woman to get pregnant there must be gamete development and (oogenesis
and spermatogenesis), fertilization and implantation
Mitosis:
The process of nuclear division in somatic cells (during cell division &
multiplication) where each chromosomes divides into two
1 cell with 46 chromosomes (diploid) to 2 daughter cells each with 46
chromosomes (diploid)
Meiosis:
Cell division that forms gametes (sperm and eggs) each with a haploid number of
chromosomes
1 cell with 46 chromosomes (diploid) to 4 daughter cells with 23 chromosomes
(haploid)
Meiosis I halves number of chromosomes
Meiosis II halves DNA content of each chromosome
Gametogenesis (meiosis)
Male gametes: in the testis (spermatogenesis process)
o Mitosis
o Meiosis I
when they start they become a primary spermatocyte
When the complete the phase they become a secondary
spermatocyte or oocyte
o Meiosis II
End up with a gamete (sperm or ovum haploid)
In spermatogenesis 1 germ cell becomes 4 sperm cells
In oogenesis 1 germ cell becomes 1 ovum (egg)
o This is because in meiosis 1 and meiosis II the egg divides into the large
main egg and a small polar body
Fertilisation:
Fertilization occurs when the sperm penetrates the zona pelludia of the egg. The
sperm then fuses with the egg plasma membrane (oolemma)
Egg metabolic activation
o Cortical granule reaction block to polyspermy (at ZP and egg oolemma)
o Resumption of meiosis II in egg nucleus
The endometrium is receptive for implantation for only a few days
Fertilized egg (ovum) or Zygote
o 2 polar bodies
o 2 pronuclei
Implantation:
The window of endometrial receptivity is restricted to days 20-24 of a 28 day
normal cycle
o Endometrial receptivity
Defined in terms of:
Biochemical changes
Morphological changes
Synchrony is required between embryo (blastocyst) development and
endometrial development
There are 3 stages of implantation (apposition, adhesion and invasion).
Implantation is complete by 14 days post fertilization (day 28 of cycle, around the
time of the missed period)